Ignition switch with key ejector



y 1967 T. B. TURMAN 3,320,782

IGNITION SWITCH WITH KEY EJECTOR Filed Jan. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 74 72 E i \M Q. a, 30 1x m \54 I N VENTOR. THOMAS B. TURMAN BY mam y 1967 T. B. TURMAN 3,320,782

IGNITION SWITCH WITH KEY EJECTOR Filed Jan. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. THOMAS B. TURMAN BY 347 & 541mm!) United States PatentOfiFice 3,328,782 Patented May 23, 1967 3,320,782 IGNITION SWITEH WITH KEY EJECTOR Thomas B. Turrnan, Spring Valley, (Ialifl, assignor of twenty percent to Arthur S. Schafer Fiied Jan. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 519,754 Claims. (Cl. 70-388) The present invention relates to key operated switches and locks and specifically to an ignition switch with key ejection means.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an ignition switch containing key ejecting means which will allow the key to remain in place in the operative, or ON positions of the switch, but will ordinarily automatically eject the key when the switch is turned to OFF position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ignition switch which will allow the key to be inserted and intentionally left in place in the OFF position when necessary.

Another object of this invention is to provide key ejecting means which is actuated by normal use of the key and switch and does not require special motions or operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide key ejecting means which is adaptable to many existing types of ignition switches with a minimum of modification and which can readily be removed for servicing, or replaced by conventional lock mechanism when key ejection is not required. This latter feature enables the manufacture of vehicles with a standard ignition switch, which may optionally be fitted with conventional or key ejecting lock means at the time of sale.

The structure and operation of the mechanism are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the complete unit;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view, but showing a key inserted with the ejection mechanism restrained;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the special detent element of the ejection mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, but with the switch in the ON position;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIGURE 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

The ignition switch comprises a cylindrical housing 10 in one end of which is an insulated end plate 12, the other end of the housing having an axially extending, reduced diameter body 14 which contains the lock. Fixed on the inside of end plate 12 are contacts 16 with external wiring lugs 18, the number and arrangement of contacts being dependent on the circuitry controlled by the switch. The four contacts illustrated in FIGURE 3 provide for full ignition and services in one direction and services only in the other direction, as is common in vehicle ignition switches. Within the housing 10 is a rotor 20' carrying resilient wiper contacts 22, which are biased into good electrical connection with the fixed contacts 16 by spring means 24.

Fixed in body 14 is a cylinder 26, in which is an axially rotatable barrel 28 having a longitudinal keyway 30. A

plurality of spring biased split tumblers 32 prevent rotation of the barrel 28 in cylinder 26, until the tumblers are retracted in the correct increments by insertion of a key 34, such lock mechanisms being well known. Inside body 14 is a transverse wall 36 having an opening 38 through which barrel 28 passes, said barrel having radially projecting opposed lugs 40 which can pass through corresponding notches 42 in opening 38. In the normal operating range of rotation the lugs 40 prevent removal of barrel 28 from the lock, but turning beyond that range will register the lugs with notches 42 and permit extraction of the barrel. This arrangement is well known in the lock art and various types of detents or rotation limiting means are used to prevent unintentional dismantling of the lock.

The inner end of barrel 28 has a reduced diameter boss 44 which seats in an axial bore 46 in rotor 20. Boss 4'4 has opposed, radially projecting tongues 48 which engage in corresponding grooves 50 and 52 coextensive with bore 46, so that barrel 28 and rotor 20 turn together. Groove 50 extends completely through rotor 20, while groove 52 is closed, for reasons hereinafter explained.

Thus far the mechanism is basically a conventional type of ignition switch, only the following simple modifications being required to add the key ejecting feature.

The key 34 is ejected by an ejection pin 54 which slides axially through boss 44 and extends into keyway 30. Ejection pin 54 is held in a cylindrical sleeve 56 which fits into bore 46 of the rotor 28 and has an ear 58 to seat in the groove 52, so that the sleeve turns with the rotor and barrel 28. Sleeve 56 projects externally through end plate 12 and is supported by a bearing 60 mounted on the end plate. The ejection pin 54 has an enlarged plug portion 62 slidable in sleeve 56 and is biased by an ejection spring 64, between said plug portion and the closed outer end 66 of the sleeve, to force the ejection pin into keyway 30. Sleeve 56 is held in place by a spring 68 between the inner end of the sleeve and the confronting end of boss 44, so that ear 58 is seated into the closed end of groove 52. Spring 68 also serves to bias barrel 28 outwardly, said barrel having a limited axial freedom of motion for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The plug portion 62 has a radially projecting longitudinal rib 70 notched to provide a latch lug 72 at the inner end and a retaining lug 74 longitudinally spaced therefrom, the rib having an inclined ramp 76 extending from the retaining lug to the rear end of the plug portion. Rib 70 projects through a longitudinal slot 78 in the sleeve 56 and end plate 12 has a groove 80 through which the rib can pass only when the switch is in OFF position.

Secured on the outer face of end plate 12 is a detent 82, having a latch plate portion 84 which straddles sleeve 56 and has a notch 86 conforming to the outer end of groove 80. Detent 82 has a narrow, resilient retaining tongue 88 extending longitudinally and inclined toward the sleeve 56 to be engaged by rib 70.

In the OFF and locked position of the switch the ejection pin 54 is fully extended into keyway 30, as in FIGURE 1. When the key 34 is inserted, as in FIGURE 2, the end of the key pushes ejection pin 54 back against spring 64. When the key is fully inserted into keyway 30, a slight extra presure slides barrel 28 back against spring 68 and pushes the ejection pin 54 a short extra distance so that retaining tongue 88, which has been lifted by ramp 76, drops in front of retaining lug 74. The ejection pin 54 is now held in its retracted position and there is no pressure on the key, which can be left in place if desired with the switch still OFF. This feature is especially useful at times when it is unnessary to remove the key, as when waiting in a parked vehicle, at a service station, or a drive-in facility.

When the key is turned, in either direction, to the ON or unlocked position, the retaining lug 74 slips off the side of tongue 88 and the ejection spring 64 drives the ejection pin forward. However the motion is very slight sincethe latch lug 72, now rotated out of alignment with notch 86, is stopped by the latch plate 84, as in FIGURES 7 and 8. Th ejection pin is thus still held in retracted position, with no pressure on the key.

When the key is returned to the OFF position the latch lug 72 falls into alignment with the notch 86 and spring 64 extends the ejection pin 54 to eject the key. The retaining tongue 88 has upturned corners 90 to allow the retaining lug 74 to slideunder the tongue when the switch is turned ofi. Every time the switch is normally returned to OFF position after use the key is automatically ejected, which ensures that the key will not be inadvertently left in the lock. If the key is to be intentionally left in the lock, a direct inward thrust of the key will reset the ejection mechanism to the retracted position of FIGURE 2.

The ejection mechanism is easily removed by extracting the barrel 28 by the normal method of lock disassembly. The ejection pin and sleeve assembly can then be withdrawn through the body 14, without the need for access to the rear of the switch assembly. When the barrel 28 is replaced the unit functions as a conventional ignition switch, which allowsinstallation of a common type of switch unit in vehicles, with or without key ejection means. Some types of ignition switches allow removal of the key while the switch is in the ON position, while others do not. The ejection mechanism will function equally well with either type.

While the mechanism is shown and described in a key,

operated ignition switch, it will be obvious, that the particular key ejection mechanism is readily adaptable to other rotating barrel type looks.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit. and scope of the inventon, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. In combination with a lock having a body structure, a barrel mounted in one end of saidbody structure and being rotatable between a locked position and at least one unlocked position, a longitudinal key receiving keyway in said barrel, and key released locking means holding said barrel against rotation within the body structure, the improvement of key ejecting means comprising:

a key ejecting pin longitudinaly slidably mounted in said barrel and extending along said keyway; said ejection pin being coupled to said barrel to rotate therewith; ejection spring means biasing said ejection pin into said keyway; detent means mounted on the other end of said body structure; said ejection pin having a retaining portion engageable with said detent means when the pin is fully retracted by insertion of a key into said keyway with said barrel in locked position, and disengaging therefrom when the barrel is rotated to an unlocked position;

said ejection pin havinga latching portion engageable with said detent in unlocked position of said barrel, and disengaging therefrom to release the ejection pin when the barrel is returned to locked position, whereby the key is ejected.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said barrel has limited axial freedom of motion in body structure and is biased outwardly from said one end, said retaining portion being engaged with said detent means by inward axial motion of the barrel after full insertion of a key therein.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said retaining portion and said latching portion are radially extending lugs longitudinally spaced on said ejection pin, said detent means having an extended resilient tongue engageable with one of said lugs at the locked position of said barrel and a plate portion having a notch through which both of said lugs can pass at the locked position of the barrel.

4. The combination of claim 1, and including a sleeve in which said ejection pin is slidable,,said sleeve being connected to said barrel-to rotate therewith;

said retaining portion being a retaining lug projecting radially from said ejection pin;

said latching portion being a latching lug projecting radially from said ejection pin and spaced longitudinally from the retaining lug;

said sleeve having a longitudinally slotthrough which said lugs protrude;

said detent means having a resilient tongue engageable with said retaining lug, and having a plate portion on which. said latching lug bears at the unlocked position of said barrel, with a notch in said plate through whi-chboth said lugs can pass at the locked position of the barrel.

5. The combination of claim 1, and including electrical switch means coupled to said barrel, said switch means.

, having an OFF position corresponding to the locked position of said barrel and an ON position corresponding to the unlocked position of the barrel, whereby the key is ejected when the switch means is turned off unless intentionally pushed into the lock to fully retract and latch said ejecting pin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,437 8/1952 Visitacion -388 2,641,920 6/1953 Gill et 'al 70388 2,655,569 10/1953 St. John 70--388 X 3,005,331 10/1961 Roberson 70388 3,019,634 2/1962 Roberson 70-388 3,217,114 11/1965 Proctor 70-388 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LOCK HAVING A BODY STRUCTURE, A BARREL MOUNTED IN ONE END OF SAID BODY STRUCTURE AND BEING ROTATABLE BETWEEN A LOCKED POSITION AND AT LEAST ONE UNLOCKED POSITION, A LONGITUDINAL KEY RECEIVING KEYWAY IN SAID BARREL, AND KEY RELEASED LOCKING MEANS HOLDING SAID BARREL AGAINST ROTATION WITHIN THE BODY STRUCTURE, THE IMPROVEMENT OF KEY EJECTING MEANS COMPRISING: A KEY EJECTING PIN LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BARREL AND EXTENDING ALONG SAID KEYWAY; SAID EJECTION PIN BEING COUPLED TO SAID BARREL TO ROTATE THEREWITH; EJECTION SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID EJECTION PIN INTO SAID KEYWAY; DETENT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY STRUCTURE; SAID EJECTION PIN HAVING A RETAINING PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DETENT MEANS WHEN THE PIN IS FULLY RETRACTED BY INSERTION OF A KEY INTO SAID KEYWAY WITH SAID BARREL IN LOCKED POSITION AND DISENGAGING THEREFROM WHEN THE BARREL IS ROTATED TO AN UNLOCKED POSITION; SAID EJECTION PIN HAVING A LATCHING PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DETENT IN UNLOCKED POSITION OF SAID BARREL, AND DISENGAGING THEREFROM TO RELEASE THE EJECTION PIN WHEN THE BARREL IS RETURNED TO LOCKED POSITION, WHEREBY THE KEY IS EJECTED. 